Montessori
Philosophy of Education
The Montessori
philosophy respects and embraces the natural world and the panorama of
cultures, knowledge and arts. It respects both the individual and the community
in its efforts to provide a well-rounded education with the following emphases:
Intellectual: Hands-on material and teacher-facilitated
learning creates a stimulating curriculum, responsive to individual learning
styles and developmental stages (“sensitive periods”), that treats the child as
both teacher and student, that fosters order, independence and creativity in
thinking, and that provides a strong basis for scholastic ability and for
optimizing intellectual potential.
Social: Adults and children in multi-age classrooms act
as models for and encourage appropriate choices and behaviors that honor the
feelings of self and others. This demonstrates mutual respect for members of
the classroom, school and global communities. It also fosters qualities of
leadership and group contribution.
Physical: Participation in play, fine and gross motor
activities, fitness and performing arts reinforce the mind-body connection and
enhance agility.
Creative: Exposure to visual and performing arts
curricula strengthens, broadens, and enhances intellectual and cultural development.
Moral: Opportunities exist to learn and use ethical
judgment and civility within the family-like order of the classroom, so that
universal values such as respect, responsibility, honesty, self-discipline,
compassion, perseverance, and loyalty are supported.
The
Montessori School of Maui is dedicated to the Montessori philosophy and method
of education. With the close guidance of Montessori trained teachers, a child
attending our school will be exposed to this method which promotes the
development of the whole child, facilitates the growth of inner discipline and
cultivates the child’s own natural joy in learning.
The
Montessori Method was developed in the early part of the 20th
century by Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. From observations
made while working with young children, she evolved a new method that
revolutionized teaching concepts and brought to the classroom a sense of joy
and accomplishment. The aim is to enable the child to function in the
environment independently. The underlying principle is one of freedom within
established limits, which permits the child to gain self-esteem and
self-reliance.
Montessori takes advantage of each child’s unique sensitivities and offers exercises in language development, sensorimotor development, reading, mathematics, physical and natural sciences, geography and cultural studies, music, art, drama and body movement. These are augmented by activities in practical life which help the child develop large and small muscle coordination, cooking, gardening, woodworking and creative writing. The materials and activities are designed to help the child to progress at their own rate. The child is able to direct him/herself and to learn in a trusting atmosphere with the close guidance of the teachers. In the right environment, education comes through spontaneous exercise of the child’s own faculties. Education, according to Maria Montessori, is a preparation for life, not merely a search for intellectual skills.